In the first quarter of 2011, the British machine tool achieved a trade surplus

According to the report of the British Manufacturing Technology Association (MTA), according to preliminary statistics for the first quarter of 2011, the British machine tool trade achieved a trade surplus of 9.4 million pounds. In the first quarter of 2011, UK machine tool exports were £103.8 million and imports were £94.5 million, both down from the fourth quarter of 2010. However, the export value of machine tools increased by 25% compared with the first quarter of 2009; the import value increased by 33% compared with the first quarter of 2009. The MTA said the data for the first quarter of 2009 is more comparable because there is a certain seasonality to changes in trade data. In the first quarter of 2011, the British machine tool achieved a trade surplus of 9.4 million pounds. The surplus mainly came from metal forming machine tools, while the metal cutting machine tool trade showed a small deficit. The MTA report pointed out that in terms of major machine tools, the trade surpluses are mainly grinding machines, punching machines and bending machines, while the deficits are machining centers, lathes and sawing machines.